TEACHER LECTURES FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE

The wizard behind the curtain at Buehler Planetarium in Davie is director Jim Comes.

Producer-director-writer, Comes has created many of the audio-visual, astrological shows presented in the planetarium's chambers for the past 17 years.

"I always know what I want to say, but being able to show that in the dark is the hard part," he said. "There's nothing more boring than sitting and listening to a monotone lecturer. And in the dark, that's even worse."

His ultimate task is to educate, but Comes includes humorous tidbits of information in his shows to assure general appeal.

According to his attendance figures, the formula is working.

In the past 20 years, a half million people have slid down in their seats and stretched their necks to watch slide shows flash across the planetarium's darkened dome ceiling on the central campus of Broward Community College, at 3501 Davie Road, in Davie.

Inside the theater, visitors are greeted by mysterious, stereophonic music. Lights dim and the dome darkens to portray a blinking starry night. Some spectators come prepared and slide a small pillow under their necks to prevent aches.

"We want to educate through entertainment," he said. "Our main purpose is to teach. After all, we're a college."

Every year, 30,000 children from Broward County public and private schools visit the planetarium, Comes said.

Fourth-graders at Saint Coleman's School in Pompano Beach have trekked to the planetarium for field trips. Ann Wise, school secretary, said the trips are popular.

Adults, too, get in on the act, according to Bonnie Coren, program coordinator at the Southeast Focal Point Center in Hollywood. Once or twice a year, the center takes as many as 25 seniors to the planetarium.

Emil Buehler, a pioneer in aeronautics, donated money that enabled the college to design and construct the complex. When the planetarium opened in 1965, Comes arrived at BCC as an instructor. Three years later, Comes was named director of the planetarium.

On Sept. 12 and Sept. 15, the planetarium will present Celestial Snowballs, a 45-minute program on comets. It will feature the "hairy star," Halley's Comet, which appears every 76 years.

Scheduled to return in 1986, Halley's Comet was last seen in 1910. With a tail more than 100-million miles long, it's expected to be spectacular, according to some astronomers.

When Comet Kohoutek was due in 1973, "the phone rang off the hook," Comes said. Numerous newspaper reporters called him at home to ask about comets. The word was out: Expect an incredible aerial show.